For a second straight season, the umpires couldn’t split the best players in the Western Football League women’s best and fairest.
After having joint winners for the first time last season, Yarraville Seddon’s Akec Makur Chuot and Parkside Spurs’ Rita Ceravolo shared the top honour this year.
In a close count, the pair finished on 18 votes each.
For Ceravolo, it’s her second league best and fairest award having won a junior one with Avondale Heights.
She also finished second in the Western count in 2023 behind Chloe Muus.
“It’s pretty crazy and an incredible feeling,” she said.
“I didn’t think I was a chance. We had two other Parkside players there and Taquila Angel had an incredible season and I thought she was going to knock me off as well.
“I just love playing the sport and my teammates keep me going every year.”
Angel also finished in the top three while Nat Pearce also polled well.
Ceravolo said the trio had formed a really good partnership together in the middle of the ground for the Spurs.
“I think I’m home there [Parkside], I love it there,” she said.
“I think we’ll keep pushing for next year and hope for the best.”
Makur Chuot returned to the football field this season, having had a break after finishing in the AFLW and Victorian Football League Women’s competitions.
She said even when she was playing at the higher level, Yarraville Seddon felt like home.
“I hardly ever win stuff. I just come to have some free food, drink some tea,” she said.
“I’m really honoured to share it with Rita even better.”
Makur Chuot said she wanted to return to the field and just have fun. She said the best and fairest award showed she had it.
“This year is about having fun, I didn’t really expect much from it,” she said.
“I hope young people can understand having fun and enjoying football and being around a good group of human beings that good things can happen.”
Makur Chuot said the Eagles, who had a surprise grand final berth, had really believed in each other and the system was keen to come back even better next year.
She said the best and fairest sits up there pretty high in her career.
“It sits second, being drafted to play in the AFLW, that is a pretty big achievement,” she said.
“To be able to come back to local leagues, it’s important for us to come back and make an impact.
“On game day, I wake up and there’s messages from young girls on the other team telling me how excited they are to play against me.
“That’s nice to see young women are aspiring to play.”
